Finally, a recipe that you can make days before Thanksgiving! Easy make-ahead cranberry sauce. You literally have no excuse to serve cranberry sauce out of a can when it only takes 15 minutes and 4 ingredients to make. Yes, I told you it was easy.
So there are basically 2 steps. That’s right, 2 steps. The first step is to heat the orange juice and the sugar until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to boil. The second step is so add the cranberries and allow the mixture returns to a boil and simmer on low.
When the mixture is simmering, you will notice a popping sound. This is because cranberries “pop” or burst when heated, so do not be alarmed! Just be careful of any splashing.
How to Use Leftover Cranberry Sauce
When I host a big Thanksgiving turkey dinner, I usually make double the amount of cranberry sauce. However, what that means is that there are always leftovers. Here are some things I do with my leftover cranberry sauce:
- Make cranberry sauce oat bars.
- Make leftover cranberry sauce muffins with oat streusel topping.
- Serve over top of pancakes with a side of whipped cream.
- Use it as jam and spread over toast.
- Serve a scoop over top of cinnamon and walnut porridge.
- Spread it in a sandwich with leftover turkey and make leftover thanksgiving turkey sandwich.
- Add it to yogurt and granola and make a parfait.
Easy Make-Ahead Cranberry Sauce
Cook Time: 15 mins- Total Time: 15 mins
Yield: 1 and 1/4 cup sauce 1x
Category: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Take the stress out of the holidays and prepare easy make-ahead cranberry sauce days before the big holiday dinner!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 8 oz. cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, pour in the orange juice and add the sugar. Cook on high until the mixture boils. Stir to dissolve the sugars.
- Add the cranberries and bring mixture back to a boil.
- Turn the heat down to low and cook for 10 minutes, until the most of the cranberries burst.
- Once the cranberries have burst, add a pinch of cinnamon (optional).
- Remove from heat and mash with the back of a spoon.
- Let mixture cool at room temperature. Transfer mixture to a tupperware container and refrigerate overnight.
Make cranberry sauce oat bars with the leftovers
OR leftover cranberry sauce muffins with oat streusel topping.
Check out Some of my Favourite Holiday Dishes:
- The Best and Creamiest Mashed Potatoes – Ready in under 30 minutes, these potatoes are so velvety and so smooth!
- Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts – Also ready in under 30 minutes, there tender and caramelized, easy roasted brussels sprouts are tossed in balsamic vinegar and honey.
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup – The most pinned soup on Pinterest sums up the taste of the holidays in one spoon. Rosemary, sage and thyme, need I say more?
- Classic Homemade Turkey Gravy -Thanksgiving is not the same without thick and delicious, classic homemade turkey gravy made using leftover drippings and homemade turkey stock.
- Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower – Imagine having a nice big serving of mashed potatoes but with a quarter of the calories. Now you can with creamy garlic mashed cauliflower! Cooks in 15 minutes!
- Apple Walnut Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette – Throw together crisp apples, crunchy walnuts, and sweet cranberries for a taste of the holidays in a salad.
- Oven-Roasted Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter – When it is inconvenient to grill your corn on the cob, try buttery, oven-roasted corn on the cob with garlic butter instead!
- Classic Baked Mac and Cheese – The ultimate comfort food: creamy, cheesy, classic baked macaroni and cheese with a crunchy topping cooks in 30 minutes.
- Cranberry Walnut Apple Stuffing – Cranberry walnut bread paired with sautéed apples, onions and rosemary is exactly what your holiday table needs!
We made this for Thanksgiving dinner 2018. My 11 year-old daughter made it and had so much fun. It was fabulous and was a hit. I never understood the interest in cranberry sauce before, but now I’m hooked. This will be on our menu every year.
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That’s awesome! So glad your daughter had fun making this! Love reading comments like this 🙂
I made this last thanksgiving and it was absolutely delish! Everyone is excited to hear that it’s on the menu again this year! Thank you for sharing! It really couldn’t be any easier. I will never buy canned jellied cranberry again!
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That’s amazing to hear! Happy Thanksgiving!
Can maple syrup be substituted for sugar? If so,would I use the same amount? Thanks in advance!
Hi Crystal, yes you can substitute maple syrup for sugar however only use about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of maple syrup, or more to taste.
What a great idea to have this with yogurt and granola. I have a similar recipe and always wonder what to do with the leftovers.
it sounds so easy I might actually try it! I hate it when things are overly complicated when they don’t need to be. found you on the fb group 🙂
Hello…Just made this and was curious if you thought it might be able to be canned?
Hi Bethany, I have never canned anything.. so unfortunately I do not have an answer for you. Any canning experts want to chime in please? 🙂
Sure why not???? Just like u would a jam or jelky!
Curious if you reheat the sauce before serving? Is this best made just the night before? Was thinking of making it tonight (Tues) to serve on Thanksgiving, to help cut down on all I have to do tomorrow & Thurs morning!!
You can make it a couple days before. I’ve always served cranberry sauce when it is cold so I have never tried reheating it. But I don’t think there should be any problems with reheating. If it gets too thick when reheating, you can always add a little water.
Fresh or frozen cranberries. . . If using frozen, thaw them? I realize that probably sounds like a stupid question but if I can use them right out of the freezer, that would be awesome!
You can use them right out of the freezer 🙂 It may just take a few extra minutes before the cranberries start to burst or pop than if you used fresh ones.
Easy and looks tasty. Thumbs up to both.
This looks very easy and I will try it. Have you made any low sugar version? I know the cranberries are low in sugar so I wondered if there is an option to keep it low sugar.
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I have never made a low sugar version but it shouldn’t be a problem if you use a smaller portion of sugar. It will just result in a less sweeter sauce.
This homemade, fresh, cranberry sauce looks healthy and delicious. So much more appealing than the jelly style cranberry sauce that comes in a can. Definitely going to try this out!
I grew up in Australia, so cranberry sauce isn’t common, however I must try it now! Thanks for sharing.
You just can’t have the holidays without cranberry sauce. At least for me. This looks to be a good, simple recipe. Thank you for posting it.
LOVE cranberry sauce.. and I love your leftover ideas! Pinning to try.
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I love the beautiful color in your recipe and can almost taste it!!!
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This looks awesome! I think I will try it. My first Christmas this year where I’m in charge so hopefully this recipe helps me 😛
This Cranberry Sauce looks so fresh and delicious. So much more appealing than the canned variety I grew up with. I’ll have to make this for Thanksgiving and give my family a treat.
Looks amazing! I have a friend from work who has family that owns a cranberry farm, and every year she brings in tons of cranberries! I’m always looking for good ways to prepare them.
This looks delicious I have to give this a go! I always try to include a new recipe every year I might to give this one a go! Thanks so much for sharing.
Yummy!! I need to try making this. I tried homemade once and boyfriend said he preferred from a can. I am going to keep trying til he finds something he likes.
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Love this! I am always rushing to make everything. Having something that can be made ahead and is easy sounds perfect. Great post!
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I love homemade cranberry sauce – so much better tan shop bought.
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I finally nailed my cranberry sauce this weekend! I’ve had some difficulties with making a good one 😛
I love the idea of adding cinnamon to this!
I’ve made something similar in a crockpot. I love this combo of flavors!
Yum definitely have to try this one out. Thanks !
Thank you for this incredibly easy, delicious sounding recipe.
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